Who to start · 2025-26
Jared Spurgeon vs Noah Cates
Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Jared Spurgeon projects to 1.55 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Noah Cates's 1.33.
Spurgeon had 22 points in 79 games; Cates had 47 in 82 games.
This week Spurgeon has 1 game left with 1 tough matchup; Cates has 1 left. We project Spurgeon for 1.1 ESPN points to Cates's 1.0.
Noah Cates has the better number in 22 of the 34 stats both are ranked on.
Spurgeon's biggest edges: Ascension score 59, Net penalties drawn /60 0.00, 20+ mph bursts 40.
Cates's biggest edges: Penalty minutes 44, Offensive-zone start % 58.9%, Luck Meter +18.
- • 2026-27 so far: 1 GP, 0 G, 1 A, 0 PPP, 1 SOG.
- • 2026-27 so far: 2 GP, 0 G, 0 A, 0 PPP, 3 SOG.
Fantasy value: your scoring
Jared Spurgeon
1.55
fantasy points per game
Noah Cates
1.33
fantasy points per game
Under ESPN default points, Jared Spurgeon has the edge.
| Points per game from | Spurgeon | Cates |
|---|---|---|
| Goals (+2) | 0.14 | 0.39 |
| Assists (+1) | 0.25 | 0.31 |
| Power-play points (+0.5) | 0.04 | 0.05 |
| Shorthanded points (+0.5) | 0.00 | 0.01 |
| Shots on goal (+0.1) | 0.11 | 0.16 |
| Hits (+0.1) | 0.10 | 0.11 |
| Blocks (+0.5) | 0.91 | 0.30 |
Per-game rates from the selected sample; blended mixes last season with this season, weighting this season more as games are played. Categories are scored as z-scores against qualified players at the same position. Your custom weights are saved in this browser only.
Head-to-head: Spurgeon vs Cates
Every event between them in NHL play-by-play, 2021-22 to 2025-26: games against each other, faceoffs, shots on goal, hits and penalties. Regular season and playoffs.
Spurgeon 0G 2A, 7 SOG · Cates 2G 1A, 13 SOG
Spurgeon blocked 1 of Cates's shots; Cates blocked 0 of Spurgeon's.
On the ice against each other (Spurgeon's side)
9:51 at 5-on-5 over 2 games, 2025-26, from Spurgeon's side
- Shot attempts
- 2–9
- 18.2%
- Expected goals
- 0.0–0.4
- 5.3%
- Goals
- 0–0
Games against each other
| Date | Score | Spurgeon | Cates |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-03-12 | MIN 2–3 PHI | 0G 0A 2S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2025-10-18 | MIN 1–2 PHI | 0G 0A 1S | 1G 0A 3S |
| 2024-12-14 | MIN 4–1 PHI | 0G 0A 0S | 0G 0A 3S |
| 2023-03-23 | MIN 4–5 PHI | 0G 0A 0S | 0G 1A 0S |
| 2023-01-26 | MIN 3–2 PHI | 0G 1A 2S | 1G 0A 3S |
| 2022-03-29 | MIN 4–1 PHI | 0G 1A 2S | 0G 0A 3S |
Every stat, side by side
Season values; bars are percentiles at each player's position (longer is better). Click a stat for its explainer.
Fantasy box score
Possession & shot quality (5-on-5 on-ice)
Transition, turnovers & faceoffs
Usage
Special teams & discipline
This week's schedule
Sep 28 to Oct 4. More games usually wins a weekly start/sit. Chips show how many fantasy points the opponent allows to the player's position (soft or tough), the Schedule Edge from rest and travel, and the likely opposing goalie with his save percentage. Projections use ESPN default points for the games left.
Jared Spurgeon
2games (1 left)
1.1proj. ESPN pts
- Thu, Oct 1 @ NSHOpp allows 11th-most FP to DLikely vs Juuse Saros (.893)
- Sat, Oct 3 vs BOS1.1 ptsOpp allows 4th-fewest FP to DSchedule edge +12.8 win%Likely vs Michael DiPietro (1.000)
Noah Cates
3games (1 left)
1.0proj. ESPN pts
- Wed, Sep 30 vs PITOpp allows the fewest FP to LWLikely vs Arturs Silovs (.888)
- Thu, Oct 1 @ NJDB2BOpp allows 8th-fewest FP to LWSchedule edge −9.3 win%Likely vs Jake Allen (.904)
- Sat, Oct 3 vs CAR1.0 ptsOpp allows 12th-fewest FP to LWSchedule edge +12.9 win%Likely vs Pyotr Kochetkov (.899)
Similar matchups
FAQ
- Should I start Jared Spurgeon or Noah Cates in fantasy hockey?
- Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Jared Spurgeon projects to 1.55 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Noah Cates's 1.33. Spurgeon had 22 points in 79 games; Cates had 47 in 82 games. Check this week's games and your league's scoring in the fantasy panel above, since more games usually decide a weekly start.
- Who is better, Jared Spurgeon or Noah Cates?
- On 2025-26 numbers, Noah Cates leads in 22 of 34 stats where both qualify, from scoring and power-play production to on-ice shot share and NHL EDGE tracking.
- How have Spurgeon and Cates done against each other?
- In 6 games against each other in our data, Spurgeon's team went 3–3. Spurgeon had 2 points (0 goals) and Cates had 3 (2 goals).
2025-26 regular season from NHL play-by-play, shift charts and NHL EDGE, processed by Edgehalla. Head-to-head covers every loaded season (play-by-play from 2019-20; on-ice matchups from 2025-26).Compare other players →